Zacks Buy List Highlights: American Commercial Lines, Inc., Carlisle Companies Incorporated, dELiA*s, Inc. and Tidewater, Inc.

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com releases the latest list of Zacks Rank Buy Stocks. Everyday on Zacks.com, four stocks are selected based on how well they match the criteria for the four main schools of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum and Value. The four Zacks Rank Buy stocks highlighted today are American Commercial Lines, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACLI), Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE: CSL), dELiA*s, Inc. (Nasdaq: DLIA), and Tidewater, Inc. (NYSE: TDW).

Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of +31.8% since inception in 1988. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8% while the S&P 500 tumbled 37.6%. To see the full Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List, or the rank for any other stock, visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=88

Here is a synopsis of today's Zacks Rank Buy Stocks:

Aggressive Growth - American Commercial Lines, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACLI)

American Commercial Lines, Inc. has exceeded earnings estimates in four straight quarters, with three of them posting double-digit surprises. Over the past 60 days, this year's estimates have jumped 30 cents to $2.75 per share, while next year's have risen 25 cents to $3.69 per share. The stocks P/E ratio of 18x next year's estimates is well below the company's long-term growth rate of 31.8%.

Growth & Income - Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE: CSL)

Carlisle Companies Incorporated exceeded analysts' earnings expectations in 14 out of the past 15 quarters by an average margin of 12.2%. After posting solid results for the third quarter, the company upped its full-year earnings per share guidance. The company has a current dividend yield of 1.4% and a five-year average dividend yield of 1.7%.

Momentum - dELiA*s, Inc. (Nasdaq: DLIA)

On Dec 6, dELiA*s, Inc. reported third-quarter earnings at 11 cents per share, a 57% positive earnings surprise and 83% above earnings in the prior-year period. With a recent new high, good support under the market and a powerful earnings surprise behind it, it's likely that DLIA will continue to power ahead at least until the next earnings report.

Value - Tidewater, Inc. (NYSE: TDW)

Tidewater, Inc., a Zacks #1 Rank stock, exceeded analysts' earnings expectations for eight consecutive quarters by an average margin of 8.8%. Consensus earnings estimates have been trending higher for TDW. Earnings per share are projected to grow 36% over the next 3-5 years. The company has a price-to-book ratio of 1.8, compared to 4.9 for the market. Its PEG ratio currently sits at a miniscule 0.26.

Truly taking advantage of the Zacks Rank requires the understanding of how it works. The free special report, "Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions," provides an insightful background about this wealth-building tool. Download your free copy of the report now to prosper in the years to come by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=93.

About the Zacks Rank

Since 1988, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." A $10,000 investment in the Zacks Rank list made in 1988 would now be worth $1.77 million - equivalent to a 31.8% annualized return! During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8%, while the S&P 500 tumbled 37.6%. Also note that the Zacks Rank system has just as many Strong Sell recommendations (Rank #5) as Strong Buy recommendations (Rank #1). Since 1988, Zacks Rank #5 stocks have underperformed the S&P 500 by 143.6% annually (+4.8% vs. +11.8%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

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